Rotorua
You'll find plenty of easy accessible geothermal phenomenons around the city and you may already know that you won't be alone here. The cities attractions are almost all designed to serve busloads of tourists.
You'll probably smell hydrogene sulphide before you reached the lake but don't worry - most people get used to it sooner or later!
The first settlers had not much of a bathhouse at all, they simply took a bath in one of the hot pools. Soon the city developed as a spa town and today there are several wet possibilities to choose from. The old bathhouse built in 1908 is now a museum.
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village
The main thermal area within the cities boundaries has geysers, mudpools, silica terraces and many more phenomena. You can be a guest at a Maori meetinghouse and a traditional show and watch woodcarving trainees who learn the art of their ancestors.
Polynesian Spa
Government Gardens
A number of different mineral pools to relax and prepare for the forthcoming part of your journey. If that's not enough you can get a massage as well.
Ohinemutu
This was the main Maori settlement at the lake.
There's St Faith's Anglican Church at the shore of the lake and a cemetery all between steam.
Rotorua Museum
Government Gardens
Located in the old Bath House Building, there are several exhibitions. Beside the history of Rotorua as a spa town there is a gallery about the history of the local Maori people and another one about the affect of the 1886 eruption of Tarawera.
Parks and Gardens
Government Gardens
The huge area extends towards the lake with the bathhouse at the middle. It's an amazing sight when steam shows up at several vents.
Kuriau Park
A mixture between an English garden and a thermal area.
Around the city
Whakarewarewa forest (Redwood forest)
Forest's Visitor Centre at Long Mile Road
WalksMany different forest walks, some of them with fine panoramic views of the region.
On the way along the westshore of the lake are some more of the countless possibilities to spend your money.
Skyline SkyridesThe gondola takes you about 200m up to a restaurant at Mt Ngongotaha where you can have birdseye view over the region.
Rainbow Springs
Next to the gondola lies the largest of the trout springs in the region. 4.5 million litres of water are flowing out of the spring per day. Hundreds of trout come to feed and there is a window allowing underwater views of the trouts.
Across the street is Rainbow Farm with daily shows of sheep-sharing and other sheep related stuff.
Agrodome
Another barn with all about sheeps and cattle.
Paradiese Valley Springs
The park has a trout viewing area and native New Zealand wildlife.
